Ive heard of a bomb-like device that when detonated destroys electrical components. Any one know about it?

Question

I think it is an atmospheric device. Who has it, who is likely to use it? How best to deal with its effects?

Answer 1

While nuclear bombs have an EMP effect, it is also possible to have a device that only creates an EMP shockwave. On the Discovery channel, they were at a military research site that had one of these devices to test it's effects.

EMP shockwaves do not harm humans, and do not have the devastating concussion effects that other bombs do. However, the pulse it emits does permanently destroy any delicate electronic components. If I remember correctly, large circuits are not usually destroyed by these pulses. So if one of these devices were set off in the middle of a crowded street, people wouldn't be injured, windows wouldn't be broken, but things like cell phones, computers, traffic lights, etc all would be permanently destroyed.

I have also seen on TV that if a large nuclear bomb was exploded in the right place high above the US (200 miles up?) that it could permanently destroy all electronic circuits all across the US. This would have disastrous effects, and would take 10's of years before things got back to normal.

Answer 2

You're probably talking about the electromagnetic ionization that could occur if a nuclear bomb was exploded about 50 miles above the earth. It supposedly would send a high intensity radio wave outward and the earth just below would receive some of it. Any electronic equipment there (including cars, airplanes and most military equipment) would be burned out. I think the idea was later discredited but it was a big deal for a while.

Answer 3

EMP- Electro Magnetic Pulse, which is an electronic wave that is denotated after a nuclear explosion, but recently is created on it's own. When it goes off, it fries or shuts down electronic equipment. Since it does this, it is a potential weapon that terrorist could use to attack the US. They have a large area to impact if detonated in the atmosphere and would basically shut a country down for a good bit of time.

Answer 4

Its the effect an atomic bomb produces when exploded in the atmospher. It knocks out all electrical devices that use transistors. About 20 years ago a Russian pilot fly it to a U.S. base in order to defect. TRhe scientist were delighted to have such a new sohpisticated enemy plane to look at. They opened up the electrical controls and found it had backups of radio tubes along with the transistors. They thoguth The Russians were as backward as backward could be. In actuallity the Russians knew about what an Atomic bomb could do and were prepared for it. Rent out the movie "Broken Arrow" with Travolta. It shows what could happen and explains it a little.

Answer 5

Nuclear bombs produce an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) that can destroy electrical circuits. When a bomb is detonated in the air, the circuits in the area are likely to fried.

Answer 6

what about old autos that still used points like in the 50s will it run

Answer 7

it is just an atomic bomb

when electromagnetic waves are released from the explosion the waves fry all microchips, which are in most all electronic items. this is call an EMP, ElectroMagnetic Pulse. if a nuclear bomb explodes high over an area the EMP would effect 1000's of square miles.

Answer 8

Yes E.M.P. Pulse bombs are very dangerous to everyone except the unprepared for instance when my friend was building his bomb shelter he asked me to look it over and tell him what i thought first thing i noticed was a lack of a Faraday Cage or Faraday Room to protect his electronic devices from an E.M.P. Pulse.

Answer 9

if you mean the bomb like device without the explosion, i believe that it is called a pinch, the whole thing is explained in the movie "ocean's eleven" believe it or not

Answer 10

its called an EMP or electro magnetic pulse...........google it should find out some interesting things that way